Posted on: Tuesday, August 7, 2001
DOT seeks to ease Hanauma bottleneck
By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Bureau
Cars line up almost every day waiting to get into popular marine sanctuary Hanauma Bay.
The parking lot fills up fast, and traffic bottlenecks at Hanauma Bay Drive, where an attendant tries to answer questions and help keep everyone moving. But it's a losing battle at peak hours, with people unfamiliar with the area trying to figure out where to go, pedestrians walking along the steep hill on Kalaniana'ole Highway from faraway parking places and cars, cars, cars.
The state Department of Transportation is seeking an estimated $4 million in federal and state money to improve safety at the intersection and has taken a key step by getting it on the O'ahu Metropolitan Planning Organization's list of projects, said Gordon Lum, OMPO's executive director.
It is unclear what the improvements would be and when work would begin, but it is clear to DOT planners that something must be done.
The proposal is still being worked on by OMPO, a group that coordinates federally financed transportation projects statewide, and is being considered along with 69 other projects for 2004.
Each year, 60 percent of the $130 million the state receives in federal highway money pays for roadway projects on O'ahu. Among the projects financed this year are the acquisition of the Ka Iwi shoreline area and safety improvements, roadway work through Waimanalo and work at Kalaeloa, formerly Barbers Point Naval Air Station.
A portion of the federal money must be used on projects that enhance and preserve view planes, and beautify the area, Lum said.
About 10 years ago the state considered widening Kalaniana'ole Highway at the mouth of Hanauma Bay to build a left-turn lane, but nothing ever came of the idea, said Alan Hong, Hanauma Bay park manager.
At that time planners thought that a left lane or traffic light might cause more snarls for motorists, he said.
"Our main concern was that we were not sure how much it would help," Hong said.
